Latest news with #lightsaber
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Darth Vader's lightsaber to be auctioned for the first time
Darth Vader 's iconic lightsaber prop from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi is set to be auctioned for the first time. The prop, famously wielded by David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson, is estimated to fetch between £746,000 and £2.2 million. The live auction will be hosted by memorabilia auction house Propstore in Los Angeles this September, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. This lightsaber is considered exceptionally rare, believed to be the only hero prop from the original Star Wars trilogy with verifiable screen use ever offered publicly. Constructed from a vintage British press camera flash handle, the prop will tour London, Beverly Hills, and New York throughout August before the sale.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Star Wars lightsaber could fetch £2 million at auction
Star Wars fans will soon have the chance to get their hands on memorabilia from the movie franchise, but if you are interested, it could set you back a cool £2 million. The Star Wars lightsaber used by super villain Darth Vader will go under the hammer for the first weapon, which was used in the 1980s films, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi, will be going up for auction in prop, which is being sold by the auction house Propstore, is estimated to sell for a staggering $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 (£746,000 to £2,241,000). The famous lightsaber was used during the huge duels in both films between Darth Vader, played by David Prowse, and Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill."Genuine lightsaber props from the original trilogy are incredibly rare," Propstore said. "This is believed to be the only hero lightsaber prop with verifiable screen-use to ever be offered at public auction. It is one of the rarest and most sought after "grail" Star Wars props in existence."The lightsaber was made using the flash handle of a vintage British press camera. A wooden rod which was used as a blade during the choreographed fight scenes made the physical on-camera duelling also allowed visual effects artists to add in the famous glow for the final shots. "Nearly 50 years after the first Star Wars film, lightsabers are a universally recognised symbol of the world's most beloved film franchise and are consistently ranked as the most iconic and memorable props of all time," said Brandon Alinger who is the CEO at Propstore. "This lightsaber is simply everything you want it to be - one of the most significant Star Wars artefacts ever. One of the most significant cinema artefacts ever."The prop will go on tour and visit London, Beverly Hills and New York throughout August before the live auction takes place in Los Angeles this tour will also feature other famous film artefacts including Indiana Jones's bullwhip and belt, and Sauron's helmet from the Lord Of The Rings: Fellowship Of The Ring.
Gizmodo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Become a Master of Evil With Darth Vader's Actual Lightsaber (if You Have $3 Million)
io9 has covered a few notable Star Wars auctions lately, as rare toys and highly collectible props have come to market in surprisingly robust amounts. But maybe the most exciting example has just emerged: Darth Vader's lightsaber. The actual, authentic, screen-matched hilt used by David Prowse and his stunt double in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. As your mind reels at the possibility of owning such a prize, consider that it's estimated to command $1 million at the lowest estimate and $3 million at the highest… and maybe more. Propstore's press release touting the sale notes that back in 2022, it sold a screen-matched miniature of a Star Wars X-wing fighter for over $2.3 million, but 'Vader's lightsaber has the potential to surpass that figure.' If any Star Wars prop is going to rake in that much dough, it's gotta be this one. The press release stresses that this is the very weapon deployed in Darth Vader's climactic battles with Luke Skywalker, used on-set by Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson. Here are additional details on the piece: 'It is constructed from a vintage British press camera flash handle that was transformed into Vader's infamous weapon through the fitting of dressing components such as plastic grips, calculator bubbles, and cosmetic wiring. This specific prop was further modified with a custom blade-mounting system that facilitated the installation of a wooden rod; the rod served as the blade during the choreographed fight scenes and made the physical, on-camera dueling possible. It also later served as a guide for visual effects artists to add the hand-animated glow for the final shots.' What's more, 'this is believed to be the only hero lightsaber prop from the original Star Wars trilogy with verifiable screen use ever to be offered at public auction and is widely considered one of the most sought-after items in Star Wars collecting.' Propstore's Entertainment Memorabilia Auction takes place this September in Los Angeles, after several of the biggest items—including Indiana Jones' bullwhip and belt from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Sauron's helmet from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring—complete a press tour to London, Beverly Hills, and New York. You can find out how to bid here. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Gizmodo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
This DIY Lightsaber Proves That Spinning is Indeed a 'Good Trick'
A new version of the most picture-perfect replica of a lightsaber is drawing even closer to what we want to see from Star Wars' most iconic weapon. The new rendition of this YouTuber's DIY laser sword achieves a beautiful effect that's most reminiscent of the original trilogy of films. That's because the device is constantly spinning internally through a series of motors. Not only does this saber look the part, but it brings it closer to how both the lore and original movie makers envisioned it. YouTuber Jacob Uy's latest video shows off the entire build process for his second edition lightsaber that he originally created with a few friends from college. Just as before, this device uses a magician's cane and LED strips attached to a motor to simulate the automated extension and retraction—along with the prototypical plasma-like glow—you see in the films. There were several issues with the original design. First, the hilt was too bulky to accommodate the motor and rolled-up LED strip. Plus, the DIY lightsaber would release far slower than they did in the movies. The single lighting array created a dead area in the center of the blade, an effect more akin to the Darksaber than other laser swords powered by a kyber crystal most fans are used to. Uy previously told Gizmodo of his plans for his homemade lightsaber sequel, and—judging by the video—the new rendition has made good on those back-of-the-napkin designs. The second edition DIY device contains an extra LED strip, which, combined with a special motor inside the weapon's outer hilt that spins a new inner hilt, generates a glow that looks both dangerous and beautiful. A custom bearing over the top of both inner and outer shells keeps the entire device from flying apart. The visual effects artists at Industrial Lights & Magic created the lightsaber effect by using a hilt attached to rods covered in a reflective tape. The VFX team then rotoscoped the glow onto each individual frame and added the classic swishing, twanging sound effects in post-production. Those rods were also attached to motors that spun at high speeds, which helped generate that pulsing glow in the final movie that's now so iconic to the franchise. Uy said the spinning actually creates a gyroscopic effect in-hand—something that fans of deep Star Wars lore may find especially interesting. Sure, a blade made of plasma would ostensibly seem weightless, but the extended universe of Star Wars lore describes how the blades' constant motion makes them feel more physical than they appear. The fiction describes how this sense of mass requires no small amount of physical strength or connection to the Force to wield. There is a fair amount of extra engineering work that went into this blade compared to the YouTuber's first version. The device now includes a clutch that can engage or disengage the gears that hold the magician's cane in place. This means the device can extend far faster than before and still maintain its ability to retract. There's a separate motor that can control the tension of the LED strips and engage that clutch. It all combines into a blade that looks and acts closer to what the average Star Wars fan expects. To boot, it's far more accessible than that Disney-made extending blade the media giant showed off four years ago at the now-defunct Galactic Starcruiser experience. Uy said the next version of the lightsaber will include a full metal hilt, plus he plans to fix the issue that creates friction and slows down the retraction mechanism. You can make one yourself if you want to buy the files from the HeroTech site with a subscription. However, the YouTuber mentioned he may make the next rendition more simplified. Eventually, you may not need much mechanical expertise to create your own perfect extending DIY lightsaber.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Dark five words man said before attacking girl, 7, and her mother with a lightsaber
A Nebraska man who police said beat a woman and her seven-year-old daughter with a toy lightsaber had a chilling message for them, according to court records. Aidan White, 25, has been charged with felony counts of child abuse and second-degree assault for allegedly attacking Saundra Lunzmann, 37, and her child in the front yard of their home in Auburn, a small town 60 miles south of Omaha. On the evening of April 28, Lunzmann was out on her front stoop when she observed White interacting with her kids, according to an arrest affidavit from the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office obtained by The Smoking Gun. Lunzmann's daughter, identified as K.L., eventually came running to her crying while holding her arm, according to the affidavit. When Lunzmann asked White if he hit the little girl, he flew off the handle, police said. 'I'm not in the mood, get back in your f***king house,' White said, per the police report. Lunzmann ushered her kids into the house, but not before the wanna-be Jedi charged at her with the lightsaber, hitting her in the right arm and shoulder area, according to the report. The girl was reportedly struck by White on her right ring finger. Police indicated that both Lunzmann and her daughter had signs of redness in the areas they said they were hit. Shortly after this, White retreated to his apartment, according to Lunzmann, who called police at around 8:36pm local time. Beyond the victims' testimony, two witnesses who live in an apartment across the street told police they saw White attack Lunzmann and her daughter with the lightsaber. Lunzmann and the witnesses also told police that White, who is on the autism spectrum, is prone to violent outbursts, once chasing a neighbor down the street with an axe. Incredibly, White returned to Lunzmann's front yard as police were still investigating and admitted to the assaults. He apologized to Lunzmann and her daughter. According to police, he knew what he did was 'unacceptable behavior' and was 'cordial with law enforcement.' White said he attacked them because he was angry about his rent being raised. It wasn't entirely clear why Lunzmann or her daughter would be at fault for his rent going up based on the police report. Deputy Matthew Kadavy, who was at the scene and authored the affidavit, was able to seize White's lightsaber with the help of White's father. It was described as a 'higher quality device' that was about three-and-a-half feet long and made of 'metal and thick plastic.' The lightsaber could 'cause significant pain and injury when used to strike an individual,' according to the affidavit. White was arrested and is now being held in jail as he awaits his next court appearance, scheduled for June 3.
